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Thou Must Retract!

CARDINAL MAHONY'S FRACAS WITH MOTHER ANGELICA

By Monica Seeley

Cardinal Roger Mahony seems to threaten Eternal Word Television Network Founder Mother Angelica with action in civil and canonical courts, if the nun does not retract statements she made on her Mother Angelica Live television program. Her remarks characterized his recently released pastoral letter, "Gather Faithfully Together: a Guide for Sunday Mass," as ambiguous and confusing to the faithful in its teaching on the nature of the Holy Eucharist.

In a letter dated November 14, 1997, Cardinal Mahony stated, "As you must be aware, both Church law and civil law forbid spreading erroneous information, as well as the scandal that can be caused by publicly accusing the Archbishop of heresy. I am taking counsel with canon and civil lawyers to make certain that my rights are protected."

The letter followed the November 11 segment of the show, on which Mother Angelica sharply criticized the cardinal's pastoral letter: "What confuses all of us, I think, is that split in doctrine... in fact, [Cardinal Mahony] is teaching that it is bread and wine before the Eucharist and after the Eucharist. I am afraid my obedience in that diocese would be absolute zero, and I hope everybody else's in that diocese is zero."

In his November 14 letter, Cardinal Mahony expressed outrage at Mother Angelica's criticism. "Such a statement is absolutely preposterous," Mahony said. "To hold such a view is nothing short of heresy in our Catholic Church. I have a lifelong love for the Holy Eucharist, and it is with great joy that I celebrate Mass each and every day, regardless of traveling or whatever part of the world I am in."

The cardinal called Mother Angelica's remarks "astounding and reprehensible" and demanded "an immediate public clarification and apology." He requested that she assure viewers that "the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles does, indeed, believe fully in the Real Presence, and fosters devotion to this great Mystery of our Faith."

In compliance with the cardinal's request, Mother Angelica devoted the November 18 segment of the hour-long show to the pastoral letter. "I do want to apologize to the Cardinal for my remarks, which I'm sure seemed excessive," Mother Angelica stated. However, she continued: "This is how I saw it when I read it. When I spoke those words last week I was expressing my heartfelt concern over the contents of this pastoral."

Subsequent to her apology, Mother Angelica received another letter from Cardinal Mahony suggesting that His Eminence remained unsatisfied. In the letter, dated December 1, 1997, Mahony wrote, "I must respectfully state that your November 18 program could not be termed a public clarification and apology. Had you simply read the two parts in which you did, indeed, offer that apology, and went on to other subjects, I would have been quite satisfied."

Mahony continued, "I believe that your apology was so diluted by your continuing commentary, that any ordinary viewer would have found my Pastoral Letter to be at best confusing, and at worse [sic], somehow a dangerous teaching document. You yourself used the words "confused and confusing" at least thirty times during the course of that segment, leaving no doubt that you disapproved of the Pastoral Letter."

The cardinal referred to Canon 753 of the Revised Code of Canon Law, which, he said "speaks directly to the teaching office of the diocesan Bishop and the requirement that the faithful must respect and adhere to the teaching and pastoring" of the Bishop. He asserted, "It is reserved only to the Holy Father, and to those dicasteries of the Holy See that he chooses, to investigate and if necessary to correct the teaching of the diocesan Bishop. The code of Canon Law does not give this prerogative to anyone else in the Church."

The letter did not cite Canon 212, which addresses "the right, indeed at times the duty" of the faithful " to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church" and to "make their views known to others of Christ's faithful."

Cardinal Mahony continued, "I have found it necessary to bring my complaint directly to His Eminence, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life."

In addition, the cardinal insisted that Mother Angelica issue a further public apology and "retraction," going so far as to specify that he expected her to air this public statement on "four different occasions" and that it ought to be written by her own ordinary, Bishop David E. Foley of Birmingham, Alabama. This retraction must be read "without any further comment or commentary," he stated, and must acknowledge that Mother Angelica's judgement of the Pastoral Letter was incorrect, that she does not suggest disobedience to the diocesan Bishop, and that only the Holy Father has the competence to do so.

Archbishop Robert N. Lynch, Archbishop of St. Petersburg, Florida, and former Secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops also wrote to Mother Angelica, "to protest in the strongest possible manner, your call to 'disobedience' in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (and elsewhere) of the local Bishop." In a letter dated November 19, 1997, Lynch characterized her recent actions as "the latest example of the absolute contempt in which you hold the Bishops of the United States, with few exceptions."

"I pray that you will cease these personal and vicious attacks on those whom the Successor of Peter has chosen to lead the Church in this country at this time," Lynch said, adding "I pray that you will cease your current approach and try to work with the magisterium, not against the magisterium." He complained, "You and your network are not helping me in my office as Shepherd, Pastor and Leader."

While Archbishop Lynch expressed confidence that "Cardinal Mahony is quite capable of defending himself, and will, I am sure," he took the added precaution of sending copies of his letter to ten other members of the hierarchy, including Bernardin Cardinal Gantin, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, Eduardo Cardinal Somalo, Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life, and Most Rev. Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States.

Ironically, Cardinal Mahony's feelings toward Mother Angelica's cable network may actually have warmed in recent months. As recently as February, 1997, he was asked to give his opinion of EWTN during an America Online interview (now posted on the archdiocesan website). At that time, the cardinal explained, "Practically none of our cable companies in this Archdiocese carry her, so I never see her programs. I can't really comment." However, in his November 14, 1997 letter, voicing a sense of personal betrayal, he states, "I have tried various ways to help expand EWTN into the Southern California area," and adds, "I have long supported EWTN as a good means of Catholic communication, and encourage people to watch your programs."

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